'A huge step forward' - Lizzie Deignan hails Tour de France Femmes opportunity for women's cycling

British cycling legend Lizzie Deignan has hailed the Tour de France Femmes as «a huge step forward» and also a massive opportunity for the sport. The 33-year-old, who currently rides for Trek–Segafredo, said she has not yet walked away from the sport because of the «many opportunities» on offer and the momentum that women's cycling now has. Ad/> Speaking on Eurosport's 'Power of Sport' show, Deignan cited the maternity clauses in contracts as making it financially possible for women to return to the sport and also gave her thoughts on the start of the Tour de France Femmes.

Tour de France FemmesTDF Femmes: How to watch Stage 5 as sprint mayhem awaits13 HOURS AGO «I never envisioned still racing my bike at 33 years old with two children, but the thing is, there are so many opportunities now in women’s cycling, that’s why I haven’t walked away,» she said. «That’s why I’ve not retired because we are at this kind of time where there’s so much momentum and I want to be a part of it. The Tour de France Femmes, it’s a huge step forward for us because we really need it.

»Globally, everybody has heard of the Tour de France. It’s a huge event. As our sport progresses, we need a slice of that opportunity as well.

We have pushed for it for a few years, and we are finally seeing the results. We have for the first time in modern cycling, a women’s Tour de France. «The platform that it will give women’s cycling is huge.